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Matt doesn’t say a word but begins to walk while covering my body. “I owe you coffee, baby, but we have to go.”
I nod, counting in sets of three as I make sure that my breathing remains even. “This is going to be a long day. Ready?” I shake my head.
The clip of my hair snaps, my curls become loose, and I finally have something to cover my face. Damn, why didn’t I think of that?
“We’re walking fast. I doubt anyone can see your face.” Matt places a protective arm around me. As we walk, I spot it—Jacob’s black truck. The tinted windows conceal the identity of the passenger and the driver. “Hop in, and we’re safe.”
“What happened?” Jacob asks as he pulls out of the parking spot and into the traffic.
“They confused me with you. I heard someone say, ‘That’s JC Decker and his girl,’” Matt growls, running a hand through his hair. “I’m shaving my head tomorrow.”
“You can always go back to the dreadlocks,” Pria says, laughing.
What dreadlocks? I want to ask, but I don’t have time. Matt’s phone rings at the same time as Jacob’s does. They both answer the phone.
“Grandma is out of surgery,” they announce in unison, and we head back to the hospital.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Thea
As we arrive home,Tristan is waiting for us.
“How’s your grandma?”
Matt shakes his head. “Right after…”
“We had a scare.” I hold onto Matt, who isn’t willing to speak or let me go. “Her heart stopped for a few seconds, so they used a defibrillator, and her heart started again. It was probably five or ten minutes after you left to drop Ainsley at her house.”
It was our turn to visit her, as they limited her to only two visitors. The monitors went flat, and my heart spiked as the nurses stormed inside, screaming code blue and pushing us out of the room. Matt begged them to help her, to save her.
Jacob and Matt held on to each other while the nurses worked on their grandma. Their grandfather closed his eyes and mumbled the entire time. When the nurses and doctors came out saying we could go back in, everyone began to cry, letting the emotional roller coaster wash away.
There were technical terms said, I’m sure, but the doctor spoke in a hushed voice only to Matt’s parents. I didn’t want to step right beside them and listen to the conversation. When he left, Chris gave us the condensed version:“They have it under control. If we follow his instructions, she’s going to live a long life.”
“It hasn’t stopped since then. She’s going to be fine,” I don’t know if I say that to reassure Matt or give Tristan an update.
“I had no idea, why didn’t anyone—” Coop runs a hand through his hair.
“We didn’t want Ainsley to learn about it,” Matt mumbles.
Tristan pulls him into a hug, they kiss, and I watch as Matt melts into Coop, letting himself be vulnerable. I don’t want to interrupt them and yet, I want to be a part of this moment.
When they pull apart, Matt says, “I’m going to the third floor. When I’m ready, I’ll come back—wait for me in my room, Thea,” he orders, making my eyes open wide and my legs quiver. “You promised.”
I watch this strange overlord persona vanish through the steps, leaving me confused as hell after that little display. It bothered me, but my panties are ready to be ripped apart along with my dress.
When Matt is gone, I see it. “What happened to you?” I open my arms for him, and he doesn’t hesitate to walk into my embrace.
“I’d rather not discuss it.” His arms lazily glide up and down my back. “I need you, baby.”
“Can you give me more than I don’t want to talk about it?”
“On my drive back from Ainsley’s house, I spoke to my father. The company, the engagement, even you—again. They aren’t taking no for an answer, and how am I supposed to work through that shit?”
My poor guy can’t seem to let things go and maybe I should help him a little tonight. “It’s a slow process, not everything has to be done by the end of the day, Coop. Why don’t we go to Matt’s room?”
ChapterTwenty-Four
